Peter Robbins, Original Charlie Brown Voice Actor, Dies At 65 From Suicide

Peter Robbins, a former child actor best known for originating the voice of his self-professed childhood hero Charlie Brown in several Peanuts television specials and films, died by suicide at the age of 65.

When he was just nine years old, Robbins first voiced the iconic character in animated segments created for the 1963 documentary A Boy Named Charlie Brown, which never aired in full on Television but was hugely important in building foundational support for the Peanuts animated franchise. He treasured his experience voicing Charlie Brown long into adulthood, showing in 2015 that he got a forearm tattoo of the characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy hugging.

While performing consistently in Peanuts through much of the ’60s, Robbins also had small roles in TV series such as Get Smart, Blondie, and My Three Sons, which would be his final onscreen role before retiring from acting in 1972.

Robbins primarily worked in real estate following his retirement, with occasional stints as a radio host as well. Robbins, unfortunately, began struggling with drug addiction later in life and had struggled with mental health issues throughout his entire life, which he would discuss openly and honestly. He was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He was incarcerated from 2015 to 2019 after being convicted of sending several threatening letters, including to the manager of the mobile home park where he lived.

After he was released from prison in 2019, Robbins told FOX 5 that people with bipolar disorder should “take it seriously because your life can turn around in the span of a month, like it did to me. I came out of prison and I’m a much better person for it. I’m much more humble and grateful and thankful that I lived through the experience.”

If you or anyone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.